February 20 - 24, 2017

Bears,

What a week!

We celebrated our 100th day of school last week, and it was a day full of learning, in-class challenges, and even dressing up and being silly. Several students and a few staff members dressed the part, and the number 100 was used in creative ways during teachers' lessons.  And in one class, they even celebrated the 101st day (see the 101 Dalmatians inspired picture above).   It's hard to believe we've passed the 100 day mark.  Before you know it, the weather will be turning warmer (this weekend was a teaser, but let's not get too comfortable just yet), and we'll be gearing up for the spring activities here at Bacon.

Jump Rope for Heart was a success this year!  We'd like to give a special thanks to the Leaders Club from the high school for helping out.  Our Bears raised $1,400!  Incredible job!  Great work to all who raised money and helped out that day.

Valentine's Day was a fun, healthy, and even an academic day (what else would it be??)  I saw healthy snacks being used creatively in lessons (graphing, estimating, and ratios), and the students brought a little extra nice to school that day.  Let's work on keeping that feeling going the rest of the year.

The week ahead

We have a busy 4-day week coming up.  On 2/22, we have our Pizza Bingo night at Bacon as well as the Traveling Science Show at Lakeside (see the flyers in last week's blog) -- two good options if you are looking to do something fun, and there's actually time to do both should you desire.

Also on Wednesday, we have Alicia and Lauren, our district's tech trainers, coming to Bacon for the day.  They'll be available to help the staff with all things tech and Google related.  Thank you, ladies.  

On a personal note, I'd like to thank Mrs. Karen Harris for being on standby for me this week. I have jury duty, and in case she is needed, she has graciously agreed to come in should I be called.  Thank you for all you do, Mrs. Harris!

Everyone have a great week.  Be great. Do great things.
Mike

Pictures from around the School

It starts with your mindset

Ms. Riley with a few Bears

100th day of school challenge 

Valentine's Day activities

Counting and graphing in 1st grade 

Engagement!

It's all in how you approach obstacles 

Our new Mindset board

Leader's Club students helping with Jump Rope for Heart

Dancing in Mrs. Lore's class

Jump Rope for Heart 

High School/Bacon connection

Jumping and seeing triple 

Not just jump rope

In the moment 

Staying fit for a good cause

Jump-stacle course 

Two is better than one

Thank you, Leaders Club! 

Fundraiser winner!  Max Richter raised $267!  Awesome!

Birthday Selfies!

Weekly overview

Monday (2/20): SCHOOL CLOSED IN HONOR OF PRESIDENT'S DAY

Tuesday (2/21): D dad - lesson plans due, K, 2nd, and 5th grade PLCs, High School to visit Bacon for 3rd-5th grade chorus

Wednesday (2/22): E day - Dare to be Fit (8 am in the gym), Workout Wednesday, Tech Day with Alicia and Lauren, Pizza Bingo (6-8 pm at Bacon), Traveling Science Show (7-9 pm at Lakeside Middle School)

Thursday (2/23): A day - SIP meeting (8 am in the library), Kindergarten Swim

Friday (2/24): B day -  A fabulous Friday

**Looking ahead**

2/27 - Read Across America Week begins

February 13 - 17, 2017

Bears,

It was another week of learning and engagement at Bacon.  This year, our staff has focused on incorporating aspects of Growth Mindset into their instruction and interactions with the students.  Growth Mindset isn't anything new to education, and it isn't a magical solution that will "fix" all the things that could be going better.  It is, however, a valuable approach to help students face challenges and overcome obstacles.  When correctly and thoughtfully applied, great things can happen within our learners.

Simply put, our mindset is the mental attitude we have when we approach work, life, relationships, our jobs...anything.  Everything we ever interact with is filtered through our mindset.  To have a Growth Mindset is to accept challenges as they come, view mistakes as opportunities to get better, and understand that skills and talent can improve and get better with focused effort and practice.  The idea seems basic enough, but it's something that we in education can't lose sight of as we engage with our learners.  The challenge is to help our students first see themselves as individuals who are capable of doing the work, then we help them see the work as something they can do.    So, instead of seeing an obstacle as insurmountable (either directly as,"This problem is too hard," or indirectly as, "I'm not very good at this."), people with a Growth Mindset understand they have the capacity to learn the skill needed to overcome the challenge.  This has been something we at Bacon have been doing - getting our learners to see themselves differently, and then getting them to see challenges differently.  It's a process we must practice and be deliberate about, but the results are worth the effort.
 

Images taken from https://www.tes.com/lessons/T0pETDb57d_LfA/intro-to-growth-mindset-6th-grade-2-lessons and https://www.mindsetworks.com/science/


Weekly Recap

And speaking of Growth Mindset, this week, some of our staff members designed activities and projects that incorporated problem solving and team work around a Growth Mindset framework.  The students enjoyed the challenges, and the teachers involved noted the sense of accomplishment and excitement the students had as they tried to solve the problems.  Check out the pictures below.

Our PBIS Tier 2 committee met last week, and they discussed specific ways in which we can help some of our learners stay on task and be successful in their academics and in their decision making. Great job to the committee, and thanks for your hard work.

Our Kindergarten classes continued their swim program.  Over the weekend, one of our staff members ran into a few of the Holly City Family Center instructors, and they couldn't say enough good things about how well behaved our Bacon Bears were during the lessons.  Awesome job to those Bears and Kindergarten teachers and aides who work with them everyday, and a big thanks to the HCFC instructors who passed along those kind words.  We appreciate it.


Announcements
See below for the weekly overview, but we also want to draw your attention to a few upcoming events.

The HSA Family Pizza Bingo Night will be held on 2/22 from 6-8 pm in the Bacon gym.  See the flyer below for more information.  This is always a great night, and we look forward to seeing you.

Also on 2/22, the Parents as Leaders Cooperative will be hosting the Traveling Science Show at Lakeside Middle School from 7-9 pm.  The fine folks from the Franklin Institute always do a great job, and this event is open to all Bacon families and students (students must be accompanied by an adult).  See the flyer below for more details.  If you wanted to have a full night out, there is time to do both the pizza bingo AND the science show.  

    

Finally, Read Across America week is coming up.  Beginning on 2/27, Bacon school will be doing a number of fun activities to promote reading.  Also, parents and students are welcome to join us on Wednesday, March 1st, for our Family Night.  See the flyer below.  We have a lot planned for that night, and we'd love for you to join us.

That's it for now . Everyone have an amazing week of teaching, learning, growing, engaging with students, and being the best Bacon Bears you can possible be.  Remember - Together, we can.  Together, we will.

Pictures from around the School

Cooking with Candy goes mobile.  Here we see Mrs. Pedrick's students enjoying some creative and healthy treats.

Mrs. Rohaly's class having a great time.

Cooking with Candy - behind the scenes

Students tackling a Growth Mindset project

Teamwork

Students enjoying a challenge

Thinking deep thoughts...

Mrs. Rohaly being honored as Bacon's Teacher of the Year

Mrs. Gandy receiving her Educational Support Person of the Year award

A Bacon tradition

Our new foyer decor.  Thanks to Mrs. Gandy, Mrs. Lore, Mr. Lokey, and everyone else who helped.  Keep growing, everyone!

Birthday Selfies!

Weekly overview

Monday (2/13): E day - Lesson plans due, dental assembly (9:30 am in the gym),  4th grade PLC (10:44 - 11:24)

Tuesday (2/14): A day - Wear pink or red for Valentine's Day, Sunshine Club meeting, floor hockey (8 am in the gym, team 2 vs team 4), 1st grade PLC (12:08 - 12:48), 3rd grade PLC (2:14 - 2:54)

Wednesday (2/15): B day - Dare to be Fit (8 am in the gym), Workout Wednesday

Thursday (2/16): C day - Staff meeting (8 am in the library), floor hockey (8 am in the gym), Kindergarten Swim, I&RS meeting (9:30 am), Jump Rope for Heart (10 am in the gym)

Friday (2/17): No school for students - teacher in-service day

**Looking ahead**

2/20 - NO SCHOOL - PRESIDENT'S DAY

2/22 - Pizza Bingo (6 pm in the Bacon gym)

2/22 - Traveling Science Show (7 pm at Lakeside Middle School) 

2/27 - Read Across America Week begins

February 6 - 10, 2017

Bears,

Greatness. Excellence.  While we as educators continually strive for these things, being great or excellent is what occurs during the journey.  It's not a destination but a process.  In fact, all work can be defined as a process.  So, what does this mean?  Greatness comes from working on the right things in the right ways at the right times for the right reasons.  So how can we be sure our work is effective?  Well, practice makes perfect, right?  Sort of...

We often hear something like "teacher practice" to describe the methods and ways in which educators deliver instruction.  There's that word again - practice.  And even tough it does have a different meaning in that context, you can't help but see the connection.  Educators know that they must continually practice their practice.  No matter how well we do, we know we must keep our skills sharp and ready.  The best athletes or musicians don't attain a certain level of mastery and then stop practicing.  They know the secret (and it's not really a secret at all) to their success is in the effectiveness and focus of their practice.

There is no one-size-fits-all approach to teaching because there are no one-size-fits-all learners.  The greatness and excellence we aspire to as a school can only be attained when we take an honest look at what we do, why we do it, and for whom we do it.  It's a continual process - it's constant practice.  Are we doing the best job possible?  Can we do better?  Where?  In what ways?  These are the questions that propel our work. We at Bacon believe in the idea of continuous improvement - of not resting on what we've accomplished, of not being content with being okay or pretty good.  We want to be the best because our Bears deserve the best.  The work is hard but noble.  It has to be - the work is for our future.

In the weeks and months ahead, let's think about the work we do.  Let's practice our practice, and let's make sure the hard work we already do is focused in the right areas that will bring us and our students the right results.



Weekly recap and a look ahead

Last week was another great week.  Floor hockey season is in full swing, our staff began tackling some tough issues regarding student achievement and engagement, the kindergartners got all wet (see pictures below), and plans are in the works for some winter and spring activities.  For the second half of the year, we are looking to have more opportunities for parent and community involvement in our school.  You'll see a few of those events listed below, but keep checking the blog each week for updates.  One event in particular, the Traveling Science Show (see flyer below) will be held at Lakeside Middle School on 2/22 at 7 pm.  This event is hosted by the Parents as Leaders Cooperative, and it is open to all Bacon families.  Check out the flyer for some of the great things that will be happening that night.

Another event on the horizon is the HSA Pizza Bingo Night.  This will also take place on 2/22, but it will be at 6 pm.  For families who wish to do both events, there will be time to play pizza bingo at Bacon and hop over to Lakeside for the science show.  Either way, that night will offer plenty to do for our Bacon families.

That's it for now.  Be great, do great work, and have a great week.
Mike
"Together, we can.  Together, we will."  

Pictures from around the School

More Pictures from January's PBIS Pep Rally!

Birthday Selfies!

Weekly overview

Monday (2/6): E day - lesson plans due, 4th grade PLC (10:44 - 11:24) Board Meeting to honor educators of the year (7 pm at Culver)

Tuesday (2/7): A day - Floor hockey (8 am in the gym), 1st grade PLC (12:08 - 12:48), 3rd grade PLC (2:!4 - 2:54), Dave Sechler visit at 1:30

Wednesday (2/8): B day - Dare to be Fit (8 am in the gym), Workout Wednesday

Thursday (2/9): C day - Floor hockey (8 am in the gym), PBIS Events Planning Committee meeting (8 am in the library), PBIS Tier 2 meeting (10:44 - 11:24 conference room)

Friday (2/10): D day - Wear Bacon Gear, 2nd grade PLC (10:44 - 11:24), Kindergarten PLC (12:50 - 1:30), 5th grade PLC (2:14 - 2:54)

**Looking ahead -- Events on the horizon**

2/22 - Pizza Bingo (6 pm in the Bacon gym)

2/22 - Traveling Science Show (7 pm at Lakeside Middle School)